They were part of a group of about 120, many of whom wore masks, who marched about a mile from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on West Chapel Hill Street to a Durham Police Department substation downtown, where the building and five police cars were vandalized.

Windows at the substation and the back window of at least one patrol car were shattered by rocks, and someone poured ketchup on the cars and spray-painted the word "pig" on at least two vehicles.

"What gets the headline is the damage that they’re doing, not the subject they protest in," Bell said.

Huerta had been picked up on an outstanding trespassing charge and was sitting in the back of a patrol car with his hands cuffed behind his back when he shot himself in the mouth and died, according to authorities.

A preliminary internal police report concluded that Officer Samuel Duncan missed a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun during a search of Huerta at the time of his arrest. The police department is looking into whether Duncan violated any policies in how he handled the arrest, and he remains on administrative duty until the investigation is complete.

"Durham is a very activist community," Bell said. "My concern is when it gets out of order – when you have vandalism and that is inappropriate – and it takes away from whatever people protest."

At the same time as the protest march, hundreds of people gathered inside Immaculate Conception for a vigil remembering Huerta. Father Bill McIntyre, pastor of the church, said he requested that protesters stay away from the vigil.

"Violence is not a good response to a violent act," McIntyre said. "So, 99.9 percent of the people who were involved last night were not arrested, were not destructive. A few people, sadly, were, and I couldn’t support that."

The vigil allowed the Huerta family to see the community supported them. Police Chief Jose Lopez and his wife attended the event.

"So many people from different communities and seemingly different interest came together to mourn his loss," McIntyre said.

On Dec. 19, what was supposed to be a peaceful march for Huerta turned into a confrontation between demonstrators and police, who deployed tear gas on the crowd after they say protesters threw rocks and bottles at officers and set off smoke bombs. Six people were arrested.

Three days after Huerta's death, a crowd of protesters also left vandalism in its wake.

Bell said he isn't concerned that the repeated violence will tarnish Durham's image.

"Durham is much bigger than that," he said. "Durham permits protest, but there are guidelines and rules that you follow, and I would expect anybody that is planning on doing a protest or march in Durham would follow the rules."

The Huerta family said Monday that they stand behind those who are demanding answers from police over the teen's death. The family, which has called for a federal investigation of the police department, said marches will be held monthly "until justice is served."

"Reconciliation takes place when there is justice too, and what justice looks like is a slow process," McIntyre said. "That is something in which others are involved, and it will probably be too slow, but it will be addressed."

Jump1Jan 24, 2014

Bell said he isn't concerned that the repeated violence will tarnish Durham's image. Now that is a good Mayor, really looking out for his city.. Of course it is going to have any effect on the city..

miseemJan 21, 2014

View quoted thread

these cowards should turn themselfs in and pay for all damages

— Posted by poorboy

If they were really concerned about the supposed injustice in this incident, they would not be masked. And since they were masked so no one could identify them, do you really think they will turn themselves in? I'm all for peaceful protests, but wearing masks or hoodies drawn up tight and then vandalizing public property should be met with a pair of handcuffs. And a THOROUGH pat down.

MilkmanJan 21, 2014

View quoted thread

Huerta had been picked up on an outstanding trespassing charge and was sitting in the back of a patrol car with his hands cuffed behind his back when he shot himself in the mouth and died, according to authorities

No wonder all the violence. How does one do such a thing? something is wrong here and the people want answers!

— Posted by unblankenbelievable

If you read the report you'd see the handcuffs were loose enough for him to put his wrists under his knees, and the search of his person was not of the greatest care, and the gun was missed inside his very baggy pants as is the style. No conspiracy here, just a dead boy of his own hand.

unblankenbelievableJan 21, 2014

Huerta had been picked up on an outstanding trespassing charge and was sitting in the back of a patrol car with his hands cuffed behind his back when he shot himself in the mouth and died, according to authorities

No wonder all the violence. How does one do such a thing? something is wrong here and the people want answers!

Billy the KidJan 21, 2014

I wish the officer had searched him better. I hate the idea that the officer could have been hurt.

virtualbiblestudyJan 21, 2014

Shoot them. Shoot them all.

ncdime1235Jan 21, 2014

Here's my 2 cents. It is very sad that he died, but he died at his own hand. I agree that the officer should have frisked him thoroughly, not necessarily for Jesus' safety, but the officer's safety. He picked him up because he was a runaway and found out he had a warrant for a trespassing charge. In the officer's opinion, I'm sure he thought he was not a threat. If the family knew he was suicidal at any point in his life, that should have been relayed to the 911 operator. I'm sorry the family lost Jesus, but he was not murdered. It's time to move on from this. Give the officer a DA and send him back for additional in service training.

stymieindurhamJan 21, 2014

Next time they start up, the police should break out the rubber bullets and tear gas and have a field day with the "masks". Those masks are worn because they are cowards.==================================================================

Absolutely!!! Trouble making cowards!! If the family has an issue with the investigation, they should take it to State or Fed. courts. Not the streets. Attorney Charnes knows this.

gotnoidJan 21, 2014

I hope I'm wrong but I suspect the angle here is money. Either the family or their advisors think that if they can cause the City and politicians enough trouble, then money will change hands to "quiet" the issue. Again, hope I'm totally wrong.

Jump1Jan 21, 2014

If the family was after answers then they would not let this happen in their son name.